[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 507 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 507
To increase deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
low-income communities and communities of color, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 1, 2021
Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
low-income communities and communities of color, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Electric Vehicles for Underserved
Communities Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Electric vehicle.--The term ``electric vehicle''
means--
(A) a Zero-Emission Vehicle (as defined in section
88.102-94 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (as
in effect on the date of enactment of this Act)); and
(B) a vehicle that, under any possible operational
mode or condition, produces zero exhaust emissions of--
(i) any criteria pollutant for which there
are national ambient air quality standards
under section 109 of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7409);
(ii) any precursor pollutant; or
(iii) any greenhouse gas.
(2) Electric vehicle charging infrastructure.--
(A) In general.--The term ``electric vehicle
charging infrastructure'' means any property (not
including a building and its structural components) if
that property is--
(i) made available for use by members of
the general public; and
(ii) used to charge or fuel electric
vehicles, but only if the property is located
at the point where the vehicles are charged or
fueled.
(B) Inclusion of utility service connections.--The
term ``electric vehicle charging infrastructure''
includes any utility service connections, utility panel
upgrades, or contributions in aid of construction
(within the meaning of section 118 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986) that are required for the
charging or fueling of electric vehicles.
(3) Greenhouse gas.--The term ``greenhouse gas'' means any
of the following:
(A) Carbon dioxide.
(B) Methane.
(C) Nitrous oxide.
(D) Hydrofluorocarbons.
(E) Perfluorocarbons.
(F) Sulfur hexafluoride.
(4) Publicly accessible.--
(A) In general.--The term ``publicly accessible''
means--
(i) with respect to electric vehicle
charging infrastructure, that the electric
vehicle charging infrastructure is available,
at zero or reasonable cost, to members of the
public for the purpose of charging a privately
owned or leased electric vehicle; and
(ii) with respect to an electric vehicle,
that the electric vehicle is available for use
by members of the general public as part of a
ride service or vehicle sharing service or
program.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``publicly accessible''
includes electric vehicle charging infrastructure and
electric vehicles described in clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively, of subparagraph (A) that are located
within or around--
(i) public sidewalks and streets;
(ii) public parks;
(iii) public buildings, including--
(I) libraries;
(II) schools; and
(III) government offices;
(iv) public parking;
(v) shopping centers; and
(vi) commuter transit hubs.
(5) Relevant program.--The term ``relevant program'' means
a program of the Department of Energy, including--
(A) the State energy program established under part
D of title III the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.);
(B) the Clean Cities program;
(C) the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant Program established under section 542(a) of the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C.
17152(a));
(D) a loan guarantee made under title XVII of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16511 et seq.);
and
(E) any other program of the Department of Energy,
as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(7) Underserved or disadvantaged community.--The term
``underserved or disadvantaged community'' means a community
located within a ZIP Code or census tract that is identified
as--
(A) a low-income community;
(B) a community of color;
(C) a Tribal community;
(D) having a disproportionately low number of
electric vehicle charging stations per capita, compared
to similar areas; or
(E) any other community that the Secretary
determines is disproportionately vulnerable to, or
bears a disproportionate burden of, any combination of
economic, social, environmental, and climate stressors.
SEC. 3. EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN UNDERSERVED OR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
(a) Assessment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an assessment
of the state of, challenges to, and opportunities for,
deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
underserved or disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban,
and rural communities throughout the United States.
(2) Requirement.--In carrying out the assessment under
paragraph (1), the Secretary, to the maximum extent
practicable, shall work with each State to enumerate and
identify, with detail at the level of ZIP Codes and census
tracts, in urban, suburban, and rural areas within each State--
(A) the number of existing and planned publicly
accessible level 2 charging stations and direct current
fast charging stations for individually owned light-
duty and medium-duty electric vehicles;
(B) the number of existing and planned level 2
charging stations and direct current fast charging
stations for public sector and commercial--
(i) fleet electric vehicles; and
(ii) medium- and heavy-duty electric
vehicles; and
(C) the number and type of electric vehicle
charging stations installed in or around, or available
to occupants of--
(i) public housing; or
(ii) affordable housing.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the
assessment conducted under subsection (a), which shall--
(1) describe the state of deployment of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged
communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas in the United
States, including--
(A) the state of deployment of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure that is--
(i) publicly accessible;
(ii) installed in or around, or available
to occupants of--
(I) public housing; or
(II) affordable housing;
(iii) installed in or around, or available
to occupants of, multi-unit dwellings;
(iv) available to public sector and
commercial fleets; or
(v) installed in, or available at, places
of work;
(B) the policies, plans, and programs that States,
cities, utilities, and private entities are using to
encourage greater deployment and use of electric
vehicles and any associated electric vehicle charging
infrastructure, including programs to encourage
deployment of publicly accessible electric vehicle
charging infrastructure that is available to residents
of publicly or privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
(C) ownership models for level 2 charging stations
and direct current fast charging stations located in or
around--
(i) residential multi-unit dwellings;
(ii) commercial buildings; and
(iii) publicly accessible areas;
(D) mechanisms for financing electric vehicle
charging infrastructure; and
(E) the rates charged for the use of level 2
charging stations and direct current fast charging
stations;
(2) identify current barriers to expanding the deployment
of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or
disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas,
including barriers to expanding the deployment of publicly
accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
(3) identify the potential for, and barriers to, recruiting
and entering into contracts with locally owned small and
disadvantaged businesses, including women- and minority-owned
businesses, to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure
in underserved or disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban,
and rural areas;
(4) compile and provide an analysis of best practices and
policies used by State and local governments, nonprofit
organizations, and private entities to increase deployment of
electric vehicle charging infrastructure in underserved or
disadvantaged communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas,
including best practices and policies relating to--
(A) public outreach and engagement;
(B) increasing deployment of publicly accessible
electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and
(C) increasing deployment of electric vehicle
charging infrastructure in or around publicly or
privately owned multi-unit dwellings;
(5) to the maximum extent practicable, enumerate and
identify, with detail at the level of ZIP Codes and census
tracts, in urban, suburban, and rural areas within each State--
(A) the number of existing and planned publicly
accessible level 2 charging stations and direct current
fast charging stations for individually owned light-
duty and medium-duty electric vehicles;
(B) the number of existing and planned level 2
charging stations and direct current fast charging
stations for public sector and commercial--
(i) fleet electric vehicles; and
(ii) medium- and heavy-duty electric
vehicles; and
(C) the number and type of electric vehicle
charging stations installed in or around, or available
to occupants of--
(i) public housing; or
(ii) affordable housing; and
(6) describe the methodology used to obtain the information
provided in the report.
(c) Updated Assessment.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) update the assessment conducted under subsection (a);
and
(2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives and make publicly available a report
that--
(A) updates the information reported under
subsection (b); and
(B) includes a description of case studies and key
lessons learned after the date on which the report
under subsection (b) was submitted with respect to
expanding the deployment of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure in underserved or disadvantaged
communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
SEC. 4. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING EQUITY PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the
``EV Charging Equity Program'', to increase the deployment and
accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
underserved or disadvantaged communities by--
(1) providing technical assistance to eligible individuals
and entities described in subsection (b); and
(2) awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible
individuals and entities described in subsection (b) for
projects that increase the deployment and accessibility of
electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including electric
vehicle charging infrastructure that is--
(A) publicly accessible;
(B) located within or around, or is easily
accessible to residents of--
(i) public or affordable housing;
(ii) multi-unit dwellings; or
(iii) single-family homes; or
(C) located within or around, or is easily
accessible to, places of work, subject to the condition
that the electric vehicle charging infrastructure is
publicly accessible not less than 5 days per week.
(b) Eligible Individuals and Entities.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
individual or entity referred to in subsection (a) is--
(A) an individual or household that owns any
property on which a project will be carried out;
(B) a State, local, Tribal, or territorial
government;
(C) an agency or department of a State, local,
Tribal, or territorial government;
(D) an electric utility, including--
(i) a municipally owned electric utility;
(ii) a publicly owned electric utility;
(iii) an investor-owned utility; and
(iv) a rural electric cooperative;
(E) a nonprofit organization or institution;
(F) a public housing authority;
(G) an institution of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001));
(H) a local small or disadvantaged business; or
(I) a partnership between 2 or more individuals or
entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
(2) Updates.--In carrying out the EV Charging Equity
Program, the Secretary may establish a list of eligible
individuals and entities that includes individuals or entities
not described in paragraph (1) or excludes individuals or
entities described in that paragraph if the Secretary
determines that including or excluding the individual or entity
would be beneficial to increasing the deployment and
accessibility of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in
underserved or disadvantaged communities.
(c) Cost Share.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amount of a grant awarded under this section for a project
shall not exceed 80 percent of the costs of the project.
(2) Single-family homes.--The amount of a grant awarded
under this section for a project that involves, as a primary
focus, single-family homes shall not exceed 60 percent of the
costs of the project.
(d) Limitation.--Not more than 15 percent of the total amount of
grants awarded under this section each fiscal year may be awarded for
projects that involve, as a primary focus, single-family homes.
(e) Priority.--In awarding grants and providing technical
assistance under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that--
(1) provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of
people within an underserved or disadvantaged community;
(2) incorporate renewable energy resources;
(3) maximize local job creation, particularly among low-
income, women, and minority workers; or
(4) utilize or involve locally owned small and
disadvantaged businesses, including women- and minority-owned
businesses.
(f) Public Notice and Request for Applications.--The Secretary
shall publish in the Federal Register and such other publications as
the Secretary considers to be appropriate a notice and request for
applications to carry out projects under the EV Charging Equity
Program.
(g) Education and Outreach.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the EV Charging Equity
Program, the Secretary shall establish an education and
outreach campaign to ensure that information regarding the
program and the benefits of, and opportunities for, electric
vehicle charging infrastructure is made available to
individuals and relevant entities that live within or serve
underserved or disadvantaged communities.
(2) Requirements.--At a minimum, the education and outreach
campaign established under this subsection shall include--
(A) the development and dissemination of an
electric vehicle charging resource guide that is--
(i) maintained electronically on a website;
(ii) available to the public, free of
charge; and
(iii) directed specifically toward
individuals and relevant entities that live
within or serve underserved or disadvantaged
communities;
(B) targeted outreach toward, and coordinated
public outreach with, relevant State, local, and Tribal
entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of
higher education (as defined in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that are
located within or serve underserved or disadvantaged
communities; and
(C) any other forms of education or outreach that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate to increase
awareness of, and access to, the EV Charging Equity
Program.
(h) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which the EV Charging Equity Program is established under this section,
and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and make publicly available a report on the status of
the EV Charging Equity Program, including--
(1) a list and description of projects for which a grant or
technical assistance has been provided under this section; and
(2) a description of the amount of funding or assistance
provided with respect to each of those projects.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $96,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2030.
SEC. 5. ENSURING PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES.
In administering a relevant program, the Secretary, to the maximum
extent practicable, shall invest or direct available and relevant
programmatic resources to ensure that each relevant program--
(1) promotes electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
(2) supports clean and multi-modal transportation;
(3) provides improved air quality and emissions reductions;
and
(4) prioritizes the needs of underserved or disadvantaged
communities.
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